History of Colon Hydrotherapy’s Ancient Roots
While one might assume Colon Hydrotherapy is new, it has ancient roots. Various cultures around the world have used water to cleanse the colon, here is an overview of just some of the history:
As far back as 1300 B.C. an ancient Egyptian medical text called the Eber Papyrus (named after George Eber, a German professor who had the text translated in 1873) describes the virtues of cleansing the colon via the rectum, initially observed in Egypt, Sumeria and ancient Babylonia.
Ayurveda a natural system of medicine originating in India more than 3,000 years ago also featured the practice of colon cleansing as a part of the Panchakarma.. The term Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda(science or knowledge).
Early fathers of medicine Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) and Galen (129-210 A.D.) were strong proponents of colon cleansing as a medicinal tool.
Zhang Zhanjiang in the 3rd century of the Chinese 'Common Era' advised the intake of water and vinegar through a bamboo cane inserted into the rectum.
Through the middle ages enemas or “clysters” were common among royal families and their peers, King Louis XI of France (1423-1483) was relieved of seizures by the use of clyster enemas, and would take court meetings while having them administered.
Ambrosio Paré (1517-1590), a French physician, was the first to describe colon hydrotherapy in detail and to differentiate it from an enema.
Into the 20th century, pioneering physicians such as Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, Dr. Norman Walker and Dr. Bernard Jensen stressed the importance of receiving regular colonics as part of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, up until the 1930's, colon hydrotherapy was commonly practiced in many hospitals and doctors' offices, attesting to its legitimacy.
It would be very normal to be given a colonic or enema when visiting the doctor or while in a hospital up until the early 1960's. Regrettably, the advent of mid 20th century commodification of the medical establishment relegated colonics to virtual obsolescence for several decades.
In more recent decades there has been renewed interest in the health benefits and healing potential of colon hydrotherapy, and thankfully we have the most up to date technology to perform this ancient practice with modern standards of sanitation and safety.
Chaotic schedules, high levels of stress, a growing dependence on nutrient-deficient processed and fast foods, artificial food additives and preservatives, sedentary lifestyles, toxic chemicals in everyday household and industrial products, environmental pollution, soil depletion, pesticides - these are some of the common contributing factors to a general decline in people's health, that didn't exist before our modern era, producing conditions ranging from a vague feeling of malaise to more serious chronic and degenerative disease states. Ultimately, the body is not designed to cope with these hazards in the excessive quantity and frequency to which it has become exposed.
The consequences of these circumstances have left many people searching for ways to regain their lost vitality.
Timeline
- 1300 B.C.: Ancient Egyptian medical text, the Eber Papyrus, describes colon cleansing via rectum observed in Egypt, Sumeria, and ancient Babylonia.
- 1000 B.C. More than 3,000 years ago: Ayurveda, originating in India, incorporates colon cleansing as part of the Panchakarma.
- 460-377 B.C.: Hippocrates and 129-210 A.D.: Galen advocate colon cleansing as medicinal.
- 3rd century: Zhang Zhanjiang in China advises rectal intake of water and vinegar.
- Middle Ages: Enemas or "clysters" common among royal families; King Louis XI of France uses them for seizures and general health.
- 1517-1590: Ambrosio Paré, French physician, describes colon hydrotherapy, differentiating it from enemas.
- 20th century: Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, Dr. Norman Walker, and Dr. Bernard Jensen promote colonics as part of a healthy lifestyle for their patients in their respective practices.
- Until 1930s: Colon hydrotherapy is a common practice in hospitals and doctors' offices.
- Until early 1960s: Colonics or enemas routine in medical settings.
- Mid-20th century: Commodification of medical establishment leads to decline in colonics' popularity.
- Recent decades: Renewed interest in colon hydrotherapy for health benefits and healing potential; modern technology ensures sanitation and safety standards.
What to look for when choosing a colon hydrotherapist.
All of our therapists at Good Move are I-ACT trained and certified. I-ACT is the International Association of Colon Therapists and regulates educational standards in our field which all members must fulfill and maintain. These are important credentials for anyone seeking colon hydrotherapy or colonics, as the state of Pennsylvania does not fully regulate the practice of colon hydrotherapy. In the interest of having your best experience we encourage you to look for individuals who have formal training on the human body and its detoxification pathways, and who utilize modern state-of-the-art FDA approved equipment and clean facilities. I ACT therapists meet these standards
Who Is Colon Hydrotherapy For
Colon hydrotherapy is gentle and we use only water at a very safe and low rate of flow, this not a “power wash” and never should be. We don't power wash our skin or any part of the body ever. Gentle = safe and effective.
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Colon Hydrotherapy can help to ease a large range of digestive complaints including constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating by increasing hydration and removing impacted waste and lingering bad bacteria in the colon. Better nutrient absorption can improve when there is less impacted waste putrefying in the gut and being reabsorbed.
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Cleansing the colon prevents toxins from sluggish waste being reabsorbed into the blood stream. This can alleviate the feeling of fatigue or sluggishness.
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When the colon is heavily impacted with waste the natural peristalsis is limited. Over a long period of time this causes our colon to become ‘lazy’. Colon Hydrotherapy retrains the colon to function optimally, promoting strength and tone, naturally and very gently with water.
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The primary functions of the colon are to eliminate waste and absorb water. During your colonic treatment water is gently infused into the colon where it can be absorbed and utilized efficiently. This differs from hydrating through drinking water (though that is very important!) when we hydrate rectally and gently the colon soaks in water it needs to function optimally.
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Cleansing the colon prevents toxins from being reabsorbed into the blood stream. This can help us to improve the ecology of the gut overall enabling healthy bacteria to flourish and encouraging lymphatic drainage pathways to improve, which helps our immune systems function overall.
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When we encourage the removal of heavily impacted waste and we introduce gentle hydration we often see the skin improve as the microbiome itself improves.
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There is a very profound connection between the gut and the brain, in fact the gut of often referred to as the second brain! Restoring balance to the bacteria in our gut through colonics can help to boost your mood and create a sense of emotional wellbeing, where serotonin (one of our many ‘happy’ neurotransmitters which is synthesized mostly in the colon) balance can be improved as well..
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Colon Hydrotherapy can help to improve general brain function. If our colon is not functioning properly, often our brain isn’t either which can result in feelings of brain fog and poor concentration. Colon Hydrotherapy can also help to improve absorption of nutrients that are crucial to brain function.
Note: We can not evaluate any of your medical conditions, medications, allergies or surgeries in regards to the safety of Colon Hydrotherapy. If you have any question about the status of your health please consult your physician before engaging in any services/procedures.